The West Virginia University Wind Symphony, conducted by John Hendricks, will perform a pops concert Tuesday, April 18, at the Creative Arts Center.
The programthe Division of Music’s annual gala scholarship fund-raiserbegins at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre.
The concert will also feature the WVU vocal jazz ensemble Same Difference, directed by Keith McCarthy. Other conductors include Dearl J. Drury, assistant conductor of the Wind Symphony; Kathleen Shannon; Nicole Gross; and Christopher J. Nichter. Bill Nevin will serve as narrator.
The program will feature a wide variety of musical selections that will delight audience members of all ages, Hendricks said.
Included will be the light classical pieceLa Boutique Fantasqueby Goacchino Rossini and Ottorino Respeghi, a selection by Arthur Sullivan reminiscent of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, and a medley depicting themes associated with cartoons.
Same Difference will join the Wind Symphony for a medley of selections by famous American composer Richard Rodgers. Included will be music fromThe Sound of Music,South PacificandOklahoma.
Movie film composer and Oscar winner John Williams will also be featured with his march from the movie1941,as well as music from what many consider the most famous movie score of all timeStar Wars.
The concert will conclude with a rousing performance of Tchaikovsky’s famous1812 Overture.
The Division of Music has been hosting its annual gala fund-raiser for more than 40 years. Proceeds from the music gala are used to support music scholarships at WVU .
As the premier concert group of the seven University bands, the WVU Wind Symphony is made up of the finest wind and percussion performers in the College of Creative Arts. It has performed in more than 20 states and in Europe, as well as for national conferences of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the College Band Directors National Association, and the Music Educators National Conference. The group performed at the Kennedy Center in 1988 and in 2002.
Tickets for the concert are available at the WVU Box Office or by calling the (304) 293-SHOW.